Dry powder medicament inhalator having an inhalation-activated flow diverting means for triggering delivery of medicament

Abstract

An inhalation-activated inhalator having a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has airflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dry powder medicament inhalator comprising: 
       a housing including a body having:  
       a primary inhalation passage extending through the body for allowing airflow through the body;  
       a flow restricting member disposed in the primary inhalation passage such that air passing through the primary inhalation passage moves the flow restricting member between a first, nonrestricting position, and a second, restricting position wherein the flow restricting member restricts airflow through the primary inhalation passage;  
       a secondary inhalation passage extending at least partially through the body; a blocking member disposed in communication with the second inhalation passage for selectively preventing airflow through the second inhalation passage, the blocking member being moveable between a first, closed position to block airflow through the secondary inhalation passage and a second, open position wherein the blocking member does not prevent airflow through the secondary inhalation passage; and  
       a deaggregation channel disposed in fluid communication with the second inhalation passage, the deaggregation channel being configured with at least one impact surface for breaking up aggregations of medicament.  
     
     
       2. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the flow restricting member is disposed in communication with the blocking member, such that movement of the flow restricting member into the second position moves the blocking member into the second position, and wherein movement of the blocking member into the first position moves the flow restricting member into the first position. 
     
     
       3. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 2 , wherein the body has a lower portion with the first passage and the second passage disposed therein, and a separator plate disposed on the lower portion for forming an upper wall of the first inhalation passage and the second inhalation passage, and wherein the flow restricting member and the blocking member are disposed on one side of the separator plate and wherein the gear mechanism is disposed on an opposing side of the separator plate from the flow restricting member and the blocking member. 
     
     
       4. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 3 , wherein the separator plate has a hole formed therein, and wherein the flow restricting member is attached to the gear mechanism by a shaft extending through the hole in the separator plate. 
     
     
       5. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 3 , wherein the separator plate has a slot formed therein, and wherein the blocking member is connected to the gear mechanism by a post which extends through and which is slidable along the slot in the separator plate. 
     
     
       6. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 5 , further comprising a gear mechanism disposed operationally between the flow restricting member and the blocking member. 
     
     
       7. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 6 , wherein the gear mechanism comprises a circular gear attached to the flow restricting member and a linear gear attached to the blocking member, the linear gear being movable by rotation of the circular gear, and the circular gear being rotatable by linear movement of the linear gear. 
     
     
       8. The dry powder medicament inhalator  claim 1 , further comprising a spring means disposed in communication with the blocking member for biasing the blocking member into the first position. 
     
     
       9. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , further comprising a blocking member passage disposed so as to intersect the second inhalation passage, the blocking member being disposed in the blocking member passage. 
     
     
       10. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , further comprising receptacle means for receiving dry powder medicament. 
     
     
       11. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a lower cover, an upper cover, a separator plate disposed there between, and a receptacle means disposed in the separator plate. 
     
     
       12. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle means is configured for receiving a blister pack container having a single dose of dry powder medicament. 
     
     
       13. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a receptacle for receiving a container containing dry powder medicament, and further comprising lancing means for piercing the container. 
     
     
       14. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 13 , which is the lancing means comprises an arm pivotably attached to the body, the arm being pivotable between a first, reloading position wherein the receptacle is exposed to facilitate placement of a container of medicament in the receptacle, and a second, loaded position wherein the arm covers the receptacle. 
     
     
       15. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 14 , wherein the arm further comprises a self-resetting lancet disposed in the arm so as to be positioned over the receptacle when the arm is in the second, loaded position. 
     
     
       16. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 14 , further comprising an airflow channel formed through the arm and disposed in fluid communication with the second inhalation passage when the arm is in the second, loaded position, and when a container in the receptacle has been pierced. 
     
     
       17. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 1 , further comprising a deaggregation channel disposed in communication with the second inhalation passage, the deaggregation channel being configured with at least one impact surface for breaking up aggregations of medicament. 
     
     
       18. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 17 , wherein the deaggregation channel is disposed in communication with the first inhalation passage and the second inhalation passage. 
     
     
       19. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 17 , wherein the deaggregation channel comprises a channel having a zig-zag configuration. 
     
     
       20. The dry powder medicament inhalator of  claim 17 , wherein the body has a mouthpiece and wherein the deaggregation channel is disposed in fluid communication with the mouthpiece. 
     
     
       21. A medicament inhalator for selectively administering medicament, the medicament inhalator comprising: 
       a housing having a body with a proximal end and a distal end;  
       a primary inhalation passage extending from the proximal end to the distal end so as to allow air to be drawn into the proximal end and inhaled through the distal end;  
       airflow restricting means disposed in the primary inhalation passage for selectively restricting airflow through the primary inhalation passage, the airflow restricting means being movable from a first, nonrestricting position to a second, restricting position wherein the airflow restricting means restricts airflow through the primary inhalation passage, the airflow restricting means being movable into the second position by inhalation through the primary inhalation passage;  
       a receptacle for receiving a medicament;  
       a secondary inhalation passage extending at least partially through the body and being disposed in fluid communication with the receptacle for receiving medicament from entraining medicament when air is drawn through the secondary inhalation passage;  
       a blocking member moveable with respect to the secondary inhalation passage between a first position wherein the blocking member substantially prevents airflow through the secondary inhalation passage and a second position wherein the blocking member allows airflow through the secondary passage; and  
       a deaggregation channel having at least one wall against which medicament is impacted to break up aggregations in the mediacement.  
     
     
       22. The medicament inhalator of  claim 21 , wherein the blocking member and the airflow restricting means are disposed in communication with one another such that inhalation through the primary inhalation passage to move the airflow restricting means into the second position, causes the blocking member to be moved into the second position and allow airflow through the secondary inhalation passage. 
     
     
       23. The medicament inhalator of  claim 22 , wherein the blocking member is biased into the first position and thereby biases the airflow restricting means into the first position. 
     
     
       24. The medicament inhalator of  claim 23 , wherein the airflow restricting means comprises a rotatable vane, and wherein the blocking member moves linearly. 
     
     
       25. The medicament inhalator of  claim 24 , further comprising a gear mechanism disposed in communication with the airflow restricting means and the blocking member such that movement of the airflow restricting means causes movement of the blocking member and movement of the blocking member causes movement of the airflow restricting means such that said blocking member provides a means for selectively moving the blocking member between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       26. The medicament inhalator of  claim 25 , wherein the gear mechanism comprises a circular gear disposed in communication with the rotatable vane such that rotation of the rotatable vane rotates the circular gear, and a linear gear attached to the blocking member, the linear gear and the circular gear being disposed in communication such that rotation of the circular gear moves the linear gear and movement of the linear gear rotates the circular gear. 
     
     
       27. The medicament inhalator of  claim 21 , wherein the primary inhalation passage and the secondary inhalation passage each have a distal end, and wherein the deaggregation channel comprises a deaggregation channel disposed at the distal end of primary inhalation passage and at the distal end of the secondary inhalation passage. 
     
     
       28. The medicament inhalator of  claim 27 , wherein the deaggregation channel comprises a channel having a zig-zag configuration. 
     
     
       29. The medicament inhalator of  claim 21 , further comprising an arm pivotably attached to the housing, the arm containing a lancing mechanism positionable above the receptacle to pierce a container of medicament when contained in the receptacle. 
     
     
       30. The medicament inhalator of  claim 29 , wherein the arm is movable between a first, reload position when medicament can be placed in the receptacle, and a second position, wherein the arm covers the receptacle. 
     
     
       31. The medicament inhalator of  claim 30 , further comprising an airflow channel passing through the arm so as to be in fluid communication with the second inhalation passage through the receptacle. 
     
     
       32. A method for preventing agglomeration of medicament in an inhalator, the method comprising: 
       (a) providing a housing having a body defining a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage;  
       (b) disposing a blocking member in communication with the secondary inhalation passage such that the blocking member has a first, closed position wherein the blocking member prevents airflow through the secondary inhalation passage, and a second, open position wherein the blocking means does not prevent airflow through the secondary inhalation passage;  
       (c) disposing an airflow restricting means in the primary inhalation passage so the airflow restricting means has a first, open position and a second, closed position to selectively inhibit airflow through the primary inhalation passage; and  
       (d) disposing a gear mechanism operationally between the flow restricting member and the blocking member such that the movement of the flow restricting member moves the gear mechanism and the gear mechanism moves the blocking member between the first and second positions.  
     
     
       33. The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises disposing the airflow restricting means and the blocking member in communication with one another such that movement of the airflow restricting means from the first, open position to the second, closed position moves the blocking member from the first, closed position into the second open position, and such that movement of the blocking member from the second, open position to the first, closed position moves the airflow restricting means from the second, closed position to the first, open position. 
     
     
       34. The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises biasing the blocking member into the first, closed position. 
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises positioning a receptacle for holding a container of medicament in communication with the secondary inhalation passage such that airflow through the secondary inhalation passage entrains medicament from the container of medicament. 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises selectively disposing a lancing means adjacent the receptacle so as to enable piercing of the container of medicament. 
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises selectively covering the receptacle with the arm. 
     
     
       38. A method for improving deposition of medicament in the lungs of an inhalator user, the method comprising: 
       (a) providing a housing having a body defining a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage;  
       (b) positioning an airflow inhibiting means in the primary inhalation passage to selectively restrict airflow through the primary inhalation passage; and  
       (c) positioning a blocking means in the secondary inhalation passage and connecting the blocking means to the airflow inhibiting means via a gear mechanism so that the airflow means and the blocking means alternatingly inhibit airflow through the primary inhalation passage and the secondary inhalation passage.  
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 38 , wherein the method further comprises selectively restricting airflow through the primary inhalation passage to prolong inhalation by the inhalator user while medicament entrained in airflow through the secondary inhalation passage. 
     
     
       40. A method for increasing the deep lung deposition of medicament, the method comprising: 
       (a) providing an inhalator having a primary inhalation passage, a secondary inhalation passage, medicament in the secondary passage, a movable means for restricting airflow through the primary inhalation passage, and a means for selectively blocking airflow through the secondary inhalation passage;  
       (b) inhaling through the primary inhalation passage at a first rate;  
       (c) moving the movalble means for restricting airflow through the primary inhalation passage to restrict airflow through the primary inhalation passage and thereby slow the rate of inhalation through the primary inhalation passage to a second rate; and  
       (d) unblocking the secondary inhalation passage by rotation of a common gear with the movable means to allow airflow through the secondary inhalation passage and entrainment of the medicament in the airflow through the secondary inhalation passage.